Wednesday, February 7, 2018

Tell us how you really feel, pal.
Mafia turncoat Ed Rubeo graphically acknowledged his distaste for
reputed Philadelphia crime boss Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino while
testifying Wednesday against the mobster.
Defense attorney Ed Jacobs got the ball rolling with a question about a
phone call made by star government witness Rubeo while he was behind
bars.
“Did you ever say on a telephone call from the jail, ‘This f--king
s---bag is going to trial. I hope he gets 40 years’?” asked Jacobs.
“Yes,” said former Genovese family associate Rubeo.
“Who is the ‘f--king s---bag’?” Jacobs asked.
“Joey Merlino,” acknowledged Rubeo.
Merlino, 55, stands accused in a wide-ranging federal indictment of
running an East Coast crime syndicate involving a variety of illegal
operations.
Jacobs, following up in Manhattan Federal Court, then asked Rubeo if he ever used the word “c---sucker.”
“I probably said this, yes,” agreed Rubeo.
“Who would that c---sucker be?” the lawyer inquired.
“Joey Merlino,” replied Rubeo.
But the witness denied carrying any grudge or ill will against Merlino.
“I have no feelings toward him,” Rubeo said. “I’m here testifying. It’s over.”
Merlino is accused of racketeering and conspiracy charges that could land him behind bars for the rest of his life.
Rubeo, one of three turncoat mobsters expected to testify, also alleged
that Merlino was cheating on his wife — with spouse Deborah Merlino
sitting in the second row of the courtroom.
“He got caught sleeping with her,” Rubeo said of the woman identified only as Zee. “He ended the relationship, Joey.”
Deborah Merlino appeared unfazed as Rubeo mentioned her husband’s infidelity.